Feeler mechanism for looms



l. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION mm In 6. 1920.

1,369,479.. I v Pdfiented Feb. 22,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET W a c orny I. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED IAY 6. I920.

1,369,479. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2 SIHEETSSHEET 2.

t UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC snow, or LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, assren'onro DRAPER CORPORATION,

or HOIEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

rnnnnn MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ISAAC SNOW, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Lawrence, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby the filling in the shuttle is replenished prior to complete exhaustion thereof.

Sensitiveness of the feeler mechanism eitherto the presence or substantial absence of filling in the shuttle is required to effect satisfactory results. Should the feeler indicate substantial exhaustion of filling and effect replenishment before the working supply of filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted, much wastewill result due to the amount of filling remaining on the bobbin when it is ejected from the shuttle. On the other hand, should the feeler fail to indicate substantial exhaustion of filling when that point is reached, blank or partial picks are apt to'result and imperfect cloth be woven.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism which shall be sensitive either to the presence or substantial absence of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beatv and to effect replenishment of filling only when substantial exhaustion of filling is indicated. A further object of the invention is to simplify the feeler mechanism and render it susceptible for use in connection with different kinds of filling by adj ustmentof the parts of the feeler mechanism.

The above features of the invention, together with other novel combinations of parts will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings whichshow one good practical form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the feeler side of a loom showing more particularly the feeler mechanism and the adjacent end of the lay;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the action of the feeler mecha- Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb 2 2, 1 921.

Application filed May 6, 1920. Serial in. 379,268.

nism when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beatl;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the action of the feeler mechanism when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

The loom frame lhas secured thereto'the brackets 2 one at each side of the loom, in which is supported the transverse or rock shaft 3 which controls the operation of the filling replenishing mechanism as usual in feeler mechanisms. from the transverse or rock shaft 3 is the arm 4 to which is pivoted at 5 the latch 6, the rear end portion of which is adapted to be engaged at times by an operating member 7 which may be conveniently formed as part of or secured to the camfollower. In the present instance of the invention, the latch 6 has pivoted thereto at 8 the engaging member 9 to which is connected a finger 10 which overlies an arm of a bell crank lever 11 pivotally mounted at 12 upon a support 13 secured at 14 to the loom frame. The other arm of the lever 11 is connected at 15 to the transmitter 16 whichis itself controlled by the feeler, as will more fully appear. The construction so far described is or may be of the usual character or may be changed to suit conditions of use.

The lay 17 has the shuttle box 18 in which may be received the shuttle 19 containing the filling carrier or bobbin 2O von which the filling 21 is wound, The front wall of the shuttle ,box is provided with an opening 22 and the adjacent wall of the shuttle, when in the detecting box, has an'opening 23 which registers with the opening 22 in the front wall of the shuttle box, the construction being such that a feeler may enter the openings 22, 23 and feel for the filling in the shuttle.

Extending from the loom frame is the Secured to and rising shipper stand 24 having a slotted arm 25 to I which is secured a bracket 26 by means of present instance of the invention, comprises a metal plate 29 having an under bent por- I the feeler moves tion 30 through which the securing bolt 28 passes, and an upper portion for supporting parts of the feeler mechanism. The feeler 31 has a roughened or toothed rear engaging portion 32 and is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. In the present instance the feeler 31 is guided at its front portion by a guide or bridge 33, and a in 34, which may be appropriately emp oyed for securing ridge to the feelerstand. The feeler 31 is loosely embraced by the guide so that it may move frontwardly and rearwardly and have a limited lateral swingin movement in a directionlongitudinally o the shuttle.

Pivotally mounted on the feeler stand at 35 is a lever which is normally under the influence of a spring and is connected to the feeler to yieldingly maintain it in its rearward position. ne arm 36 of the lever which is pivoted at 35 is associated with the feeler by a sliding connection which permits the feeler to move laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. The sliding connection may be conveniently formed by a slot 37 formed in the arm 36 of the lever through which extends the pivot pin 38 which is secured to the ieeler. The other arm .39 of the lever extends frontwardly from its pivotal support 35 and has connected thereto at 40 a rod or pin 41 which extends laterally from the lever through an opening in a lug 42 which may be appropriately formed upon a side arm 43 projecting from the feeler stand. The lever arm 39 is normally under the influence of a spring which, in the present instance, is coiled about the rod or pin 41, one end of the spring 44 bearing against the lug 42 and the other against the arm 39 of the lever, the construction being such that as the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat, the spring'44 will be more or less compressed and will act to turn the feeler to its rearward or feeling position.

Secured to the feeler at 45 is an arm 46 which extends laterally from the feeler and passes through a slot 47 formed in the arm 39 of the lever, hereinbefore described, and also through an opening in the lug 42. Mounted on the arm 46 between a stop or pin 48 and the arm 39 of the lever is a spring 49. A pin 50 passing through the arm 46acts as a stop for swinging movement of the lever clockwise, viewing Fig. 1, and the arm 46 is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the slot 47 in the lever arm 39 as the feeler moves frontwardly by the frontward pressure upon it on a detecting beat, the effect being that the spring 49 will be progressively laced under tension as rontwardly and will act through the arm 46 with a tendency to move the feeler laterally or in a direction the 7 longitudinally of the shuttle. When, however, the shuttle contains a working supply of filling, the teeth of theieeler will engage and be held by the filling so that the feeler will not respond to the lateral moving force exerted by the spring 49as the feeler moves frontwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2. When, however, the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the feeler will no longer be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling, and as the feeler moves frontwardly the spring 49 will exert its influence upon the feeler to effect lateral movement. a

When the feeler is moved laterally, as de scribed, a condition which takes place when the filling is substantially exhausted, it is desirable that the replenishing mechanism be set in action to replenish the filling when the shuttle reaches the replenishing side of the loom. In the present, instance of the invention the transmitter 16 is connected to the feeler 31 at 57 and transmits the side or lateral movement of the feeler to the bell crank lever 11 to place the rear end portion of the latch 6 in position to be actuated by the operating member 7 and effect replenishment of filling. The slot 37 in the arm as is of suificient extent to permit the feeler 31 to be moved laterally 1n the manner described. p

From the above construction as a good practical form of the present invention, it will be apparent that when a working sup-. ply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the feeler will be movedfrontwardly by the frontward pressure exerted upon it-and will turn the lever about its pivotal support 35. As the feeler moves frontwardly the arm 46 will change its po-. sition longitudinallyof the slot 47, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and place the spring 49 under increasing tension so that should filling be present in the shuttle the full ten sion of the springwill not be exerted until after the teeth 32 of the feeler have had an opportunity to sink well into the filling'and hold the feeler from lateral movement, On the otherhand, should the filling be substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the increasing tension of the spring 49 asthe feeler moves frontwardly will ultimately effect lateral movement of the feeler as the lay beats up and will thereby place the train of mechanism into action to effect replenish ment of filling.

Claims: 2

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on the stand for movement toward and from the. front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, a lever pivotally mounted on the feeler stand and having a pin and slot connection with the feeler, a spring acting upon one arm of the lever tending to restorethe feeler to its rearward feeling position after it has been displaced frontwardly, an arm connected to the feeler, and a spring acting'on said arm and placed under stress by the lever as the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat to eflect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle on'a detecting beat when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a guide through which the feeler extends, a lever having a pin and slot connection with the feeler, a spring normally acting to restore the feeler to its rearward position when it has been frontwardly displaced, an arm which is connected to the feeler, and a spring placed under stress by the lever as the feeler moves frontwardly on a detecting beat and tending to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle but restrained from effecting sucn movement by engagement of the feeler with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof on a detecting beat.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a pivoted lever which has a lost motion connection with the feeler and is rocked about its pivot by movement of the feeler, a guide through which the feeler extends, a spring acting to move the feeler rearwardly, and a spring controlled arm connecting the feeler to an arm of the pivoted lever and arranged to exert a force upon the feeler tending to move it laterally as the feeler is move frontwardly.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a guide through which one part of the feeler extends, a lever connected to the feeler to be moved thereby as the feeler is moved frontwardly on each detecting beat, and an arm pivotally connected at an intermediate portion of the feeler and placed under spring tension by feeler induced movement of the lever on a detecting beat.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler movable toward and from the front of the loom and also in adirection longitudinally of the shuttle, a guide for guiding the front end portion of the feeler, a spring controlled lever having a lost motion connection with the feeler rearward of the guide and normally acting to move the feeler rearwardly, and an arm connected to the feeler between the lever and guide and tending to pull the feeler laterally as the lever is moved by the feeler on a detecting beat.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a guide for guiding the movements of the feeler, a supporting lever having a pin and slot connection with the i'eeler, a spring acting on the lever to move the feeler rearwardly, an arm connected to the feeler between the guide and lever, a spring tensionedby the lever-as the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat and tending through said arm to move the feeler laterally within the limits prccombination of a feeler, a spring acting to I move the feeler rearwardly, a lever having a sliding connection with the feeler which permits lateral movement of the feeler, an arm connected to the feeler, and a spring engaging the arm which is progressively tensioned by the lever as the feeler moves frontwardly and acts through the arm to move the feeler laterally when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a spring controlled lever having a sliding connection with the feeler which permits lateral movement of the feeler, an arm connected to the feeler, a spring which is progressively tensioned by the lever as the feeler moves frontwardly, and acting through the arm to move the feeler laterally when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and means for eflecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved laterally.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, an elbow lever pivotally mounted adjacent the feeler and connected thereto to be rocked about its pivot by frontward movement of the feeler, and a yielding connection between the feeler and an arm of the elbow lever operable as the feeler moves frontwardly to exert a yielding pulling force upon the feeler tending to move the same longitudinally of the shuttle.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, a rocking lever pivotally mounted adjacent the feeler and connected thereto to be rocked about its pivot by frontward movement of the feeler', and a yielding connection between the feeler and an arm of the rocking lever operable as the feeler moves frontwardly to exert a yielding pulling force upon the feeler tendin to move t e same longitudinally of the s uttle.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the able relatively to the feeler, one of which combination of a feeler which is supported exerts a force on the other arm tending to 10 for movement toward and from the front of cause movement of the feeler longitudinally the loom and also in a direction longitudiof the shuttle as the feeler is moved frontnally of the shuttle and held from such lon- Wardly in a detecting beat. v gitudinal movement by the filling on a de- In testimony whereof, I have signed my:

tecting beat until substantial exhaustion name to this specification. thereof, two feeler controlling arms, mov- ISAAC SNOW. 

